It’s hard to imagine what the current state of noise-rock would be like without the existence of the Jesus Lizard. Often imitated but never replicated, the heavily rhythmic and lyrically twisted Chicago-by-way-of-Austin four-piece drew the blueprint for every grimy, misanthropic outfit that popped up in the wake of its 1989 Touch and Go Records debut, Pure. Punk contemporaries such as Metz and Pissed Jeans are frequently compared to the Jesus Lizard, but even the best bands that get that tag come across as mere child’s play when stacked up to the real thing; it takes much more than a heavily distorted guitar and a yelling front man to channel the industrial throb of “Blockbuster,” the bad-vibes sludge of “Then Comes Dudley,” the explosive muck of “Seasick,” or the unsettling beauty of “Pastoral.” The Jesus Lizard’s initial reign of destruction ran from 1987 until 1999, and this tour marks their first time playing together since a brief reunion stint that wrapped up in 2010. All four original members will be in place here: superloose singer David Yow, earth-rumbling bassist David Wm. Sims, heady guitarist Duane Denison, and drummer Mac McNeilly—who plays like John Bonham after taking a lot of sketchy speed. v
